Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Wales About the job Job summary Our aim is to help the First Minister and Welsh Ministers to build a fairer, greener and more equal Wales. We are looking for passionate and capable people from all walks of life. Previous experience as a civil servant is not a requirement. We are looking for people who can bring different lived experiences to our decision making. While being able to thrive in collaborative teams that will help change the way we think. We are looking for applications from diverse candidates who can bring fresh skills, lived experiences and perspectives to our work. Job description This is an exciting opportunity to join a group of researchers working as part of the Government Social Research (GSR) profession. As a Research Officer (RO) or Senior Research Officer (SRO) at the Welsh Government, the post-holders would work closely with policy colleagues and other analysts. Post-holders will be responsible for the development and oversight of a research programme. Example posts are: SRO: National Survey contract manager. The postholder will lead on management of the contract to deliver the survey. The survey contract covers drawing the survey sample, CAPI programming and testing, fieldwork, data preparation, weighting, and production of datasets and technical reports. It is the largest WG research contract (contract value c. £1.8m a year). The postholder will also lead on methodology work to inform the survey design and methodology, at a time when large-scale survey methods are evolving more quickly than they have done for decades. SRO: Economic policy. As a Senior Research Officer, the post-holder is responsible for the design, development, and management of a range of research activity. The post sits within the Economic Analysis and Evidence team and will provide social research and analysis to support the wider evidence produced by the team to support ministers. The role will also support the development of an ongoing programme of social and economic research and evaluation to support the Economic Policy division, Business and Regions directorate and wider Economy, Energy and Transport group. The post holder will contribute to the teams provision of evidence to underpin the delivery of the Economic Mission, Programme for Government commitments, Economic Contract and the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act. SRO: Disability Disparity Unit. The role will work closely with the branch head to help to develop a Theory of Change and measurement framework for the upcoming disability rights action plan. The post holder would need to consider intersectionality and alignment with the other measurement frameworks in the Evidence Units and more widely. The post holder will also lead on work to identify barriers to employment for disabled people. They will support the branch head to manage a variety of stakeholder relationships across Welsh Government and within the academic, third and public sector. The post holder would also be required to work flexibly across the evidence units cross-cutting priorities and to deliver work aligned to the wider mission of the Evidence Units. SRO: Race Disparity Unit. The post holder will work closely with the branch head to help develop a plan for race evidence for the Welsh Government. This will involve engaging with key stakeholders, analysts, and policy officials. The post holder will work on the evaluation of the Anti-Racist Action Plan. This includes considering a theory of change and measurement framework, and overseeing the development of dashboard of race measures. The post holder would need to consider intersectionality and alignment with the other measurement frameworks in the Evidence Units and more widely. The post holder will be responsible for commissioning and managing research projects, for example with Gypsy. Roma Traveller communities and other minority groups. They will support the branch head to manage a variety of stakeholder relationships across Welsh Government and within the academic, third and public sector. The post holder would also be required to work flexibly across the evidence units cross-cutting priorities and to deliver work aligned to the wider mission of the Evidence Units to improve the availability and granularity of equality evidence in Wales. RO: National Survey development. This is an exciting development period for the survey and the postholder will be closely involved in carrying out, commissioning, and quality assuring development work. This will include reviewing relevant literature on survey methods. It will also entail developing survey questions, working on contracts for cognitive testing of questions and testing of the survey interface (i.e. user experience testing), reviewing and testing survey materials and the process for recruiting respondents, and quality assuring computer implementation of the survey questionnaire. The postholder will also act as a topic lead for several policy areas, understanding and prioritising policy needs and identifying or developing suitable questions. They will provide support to the overall lead for survey content development to ensure that valuable survey time is used as effectively as possible. The post would suit someone with a mixed qualitative/quantitative research background, or with a qualitative background and an interest in developing a knowledge of social survey methods. RO: Administrative Data Research. This role is part of our Welsh Government and higher education partnership known as Administrative Data Research (ADR) Wales. ADR Wales unites specialists at Swansea University and Cardiff University with statisticians, economists and social researchers in our Welsh Government team. By linking together data held by different parts of government, and facilitating safe and secure access for accredited researchers to these newly joined-up and de-identified datasets, ADR Wales (part of ADR UK) is helping to create a sustainable body of knowledge about how our society and economy function tailored to give decision makers the answers they need to solve important policy questions. A number of other RO posts will be available as we are undertaking internal promotion to SRO at the same time. All posts will involve supporting emerging needs from the relevant policy areas as well as contributing to projects working across different teams in the Research Profession. Please get in touch if you would like to know more about any of these posts or emerging opportunities. Person specification The indicative key tasks outlined below may not all necessarily be required within a single post and other tasks may also be undertaken. The level of responsibility will vary between Research Officer and Senior Research Officer roles. There will be a greater emphasis on autonomy and leading projects for a Senior Research Officer role. What your organisation will expect: Contribute to the development of an evidence base for policy and influence budget decisions. By providing relevant, timely and reliable evidence. Work with policy colleagues and other analysts to support the delivery of departmental evidence plans. By identifying and prioritising research requirements and evidence gaps. Also developing projects that meet departmental requirements. Keep abreast of relevant evidence and methods and communicate findings to key policy colleagues. Ensure projects and contracts are delivered within deadlines, resource constraints. Also ensuring compliance with appropriate professional standards, by using project management techniques. Ensure that sound financial management procedures are followed. Promote the effective use of social research in strategy, policy development and delivery. Both across the Welsh Government and externally. Contribute to quality/improvement activities within own job, and through the wider GSR network. What your team will expect: Lead and/or manage the development and delivery of research and evaluation projects. Support and encourage policy colleagues to develop their understanding of social research. This includes appreciating how social research can support wider Welsh Government aims. Advise and support internal colleagues on technical and professional social research issues. Ensure any line managed staff are developed. Through the provision of direction, advice and support for training and professional development. Deputise for Principal Research Officers as required. Contribute to other areas of research and evaluation, as deemed appropriate by line manager. What your stakeholders will expect: Ensure that research findings are communicated effectively. Including findings feeding into policy and service development, delivery and evaluation. Develop and maintain strategic links with the wider research community. Within Wales, the UK and internationally. Work with other public sector organisations where common areas of interest are identified Memberships GSR membership Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Working Together Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace Benefits Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. The selection process and stages are: Number of Stages: 2 stage process Stage 1 Application Form Stage 2 Interview Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Steven Marshall Email : socialresearch.recruitmentgov.wales Recruitment team Email : Sharedservicehelpdeskgov.wales Apply at advertiser's site Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail